As the exit to the next chamber came into sight a minute or so later, I gestured for both Cyndaquil and Elekid to move back and let me scout out the situation first as I moved forward slowly.
As I reached the exit I took note of a faint shimmering translucent barrier that was just barely visible, so this was what would prevent me from using my same stratagy a second time.
Brushing my annoyance aside I crouched to make myself as small as possible before peering out into the next chamber, frowning when I couldn't immediately make out any figures.
The chamber was about twice the size as the last one had been, but only it had two elevations to it, the first being a crescent moon shape that the tunnel led out to, and the second was on a raised area on the other side of the chamber, which I could make out a rocky slope that lead up to it.
As I looked around the area I tried to spot more Skeevers only to pause when I saw something move. It took me a second to try and figure out just what it was, but when my brain registered just what it was that I was seeing, my breath caught in my throat, and felt every hair on my neck stand on end as the words and health bar appeared above it.
{Giant Rat Lv 14}
It stood a good six feet tall with dark gray fur, its beady eyes were an amber yellow. It had razor sharp claws and a long worm-like tail that was as thick as my forearm. It took me a second to recognize just where I knew it from and held back a curse as I moved back and tightened my grip on both my wand and tonfa.
'Fuck, now the System is pulling from Yugioh, first skyrim and now this' I cursed in my mind, weren't skeevers bad enough.
Taking a deep breath I tried to calm myself, it wasn't all that bad, as far as I could tell there was only one, if there had been more we definitely would be bugging out for now until I got more spells down but this was still doable.
As if on cue another blue screen appeared in my line of sight, only its contents made me pause in confusion as I read over it.
Mission: Miniboss Bananza
Objective: defeat the Giant Rat Miniboss
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???
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Reward: 2000 Pokédollars, ???, ???, ???
Accept: Y/N
Okay, if I hadn't been worried before I definitely was now. While defeating the Giant Rat would be challenging this told me that there was definitely more at play than just this one miniboss. I wanted to decline it immediately but seeing the three mystery rewards on top of the two thousand Pokédollar bonus was really tempting me to accept, the more money I had the better off I would be.
'Fuck it, what's the worst that could happen' I thought to myself as I hit accept and turned to my Pokémon.
"Okay there's only one enemy as far as I can see, he's big but that should hopefully mean that he's slow, here's what I want you both to do" I said as I began to give both of them my plan for how to handle this colossal rat.
-.-.-
I emerged from the tunnel with my Tonfa at the ready and my wand aimed, "Now," I commanded as both Cyndaquill and Elekid came from behind me in blurs, utilizing their quick attack to move into position.
My voice had immediately drawn the attention of the Giant Rat as it turned to me and gave a hiss that made my swallow hard as a shiver went down my spine, the thing truly was intimidating even from a good dozen meters away.
But it had only taken a second more for both Cyndaquil and Elekid to get into position, as the three of us had the giant rodent circled in a triangle formation.
"Elekid!" Elekid cried as he rushed forward, electricity sparking from his horns as he lunged with speed at the giant rodent's exposed flank.
However the cry had drawn the rodent's attention as it turned at the sound of the attack, but that was when Cyndaquil and I made out moves.
"Difindo!" I snapped as I flicked my wand out in practiced ease while Cyndaquil gave a cry and released a burst of embers towards our foe.
The Giant Rat hissed as both out attacks hit the mark, my spell cutting it only slightly while Cyndaquils attack only managed to singe it's fur slightly, I suppressed a wince when I noted that our attacks had only barely chipped its health bar, but our attacks had fulfilled their purpose and had distracted the Giant Rat long enough for Elekid to reach it and with a lunge grabbed a hold of its fur before the next part of my plan went into motion.
"Elekid!" with a cry Elekid released every bit of electricity that he could as he gripped tight to the massive rodent's back.
The chamber lit up as the Giant Rat screamed out in pain from the electrical attack, and I grinned at what I perceived as a successful plan, but my grin immediately fell when I noticed that the Minibosses health was barely dropping even as the attack continued.
'But why..' I thought to myself, they were the same level, it should be doing more, but that was when it clicked with me, 'Giant Rat had an earth type nature, fuck' that must have been it, while it wasnt a rock or ground typing it must have given it some resistance to physical damage and fire and electric attacks, and even though it was doing something it was only marginal, Elekid would definitely run out of juice before he brought it down.
"Crap, Elekid, let go and get back!" I called out as I aimed my wand again, getting ready for the long grind now, since my first plan had failed. All we could try to do now was out last this thing.
Elekid heeded my call and stopped the attack, letting go at the same time as he threw himself back and rolled just in time to avoid the Giant Rat's tail that tried to swipe at him.
As the rat turned to give chase, both Cyndaquil and I came in launching our own attacks to draw its attention back to us.
"Long range attacks only, Elekid, focus on using swift, this guy can resist your electrical attacks!" I called out as we kept attacking.
And so the long grind to wear the monstrosity out began, as we peppered it with attacks from three directions, each time the Giant Rat moved to attack one of us the other two would increase our assault to pull its agro back onto either of us.
It took a good ten minutes of slowly chipping away at its health but gradually we began to wear it down, until it was almost in the red.
"Almost there, keep up the pressure!" I called as I felt sweat drip down my neck from all the casting I had been doing, it may have only been ten minutes but it felt like we had been at it for hours, and my spells were only barely scratching this thing.
But eventually as the last of it's health fell away the Giant Rat let out a echowing screech before it fell down with an almighty crash and I took a sigh of relief, that had taken much more effort than I had thought it would, and with a glance I could see that both Elekid and Cindaquill were just as tired as I was. The flames on Cyndaquill's back were half the size they usually were and Elekid was barely sparking with electricity now.
Taking another breath I went to speak only for words to fail me as the ground began to shake and then from the upper section of the chamber a second Giant Rat burst from the ground screeching in rage.
And I instantly felt the blood drain from my face as I remembered then and there just what the Giant Rat's card effect had been in game, that being when it was sent to the graveyard the player could summon another monster with similar or lower attack from his hand or deck.
Chapter word count: 1406